What is the worst that can happen?

[sleepyk]

Should I be scared to hack my point and shoot camera with this?  It seems that plenty of people have had good results, but just give me a worst case scenario on what could happen if everything goes wrong, just so I can get understand what this CHDK can really do

Thanks

[acseven]

Hi,

Please visit this thread: CHDK what? Help me, I'm a newbie!

[sleepyk]

Thanks for that link, but I still can't seem to find the issues of using this software.  For example, should I be concerned about my camera's processor overheating while using CHDK?  Can my sensor be damaged somehow?  I only have one camera (Canon Powershot 720 IS) and I don't have the money to buy a new one, can it be damaged by using this software in anyway?

[fe50]

...can it be damaged by using this software in anyway?

no, normally not - but nobody give you a garantee, of course !

I never heared from a camera damaged by CHDK yet !

Perhaps this FAQ Entry in the wikia may help you...

Worst case: camera crashes (hangs up) -> remove battery, wait ~ 1 minute, re-insert batts & all will be ok 

[wontolla]

Worst case scenario is: You hit a bug in CHDK and your camera freezes. You'll have to turn it off and on again.

Worst case of the worst case scenario is: The turn off button doesn't work and you have to take the batteries out.

AFAIK, not a single soul has ever reported any damage caused directly by CHDK.
(Once, a dude dropped the camera into a sink full of water while trying to capture water drops at 1/60,000 shutter speed)

Give it a shot! Worst thing can happen is you are hit by a lightning while using motion detection to capture it.

It's been observed wear in camera's buttons after several months of using CHDK. But that's because people use the camera much more often.
Certain combination of script commands are believed to be capable of cause damage on the zoom motors. But only brave souls dare to use them. Still, no reports of impairment. Standard scripts are safe.

[wontolla]

camera's processor overheating while using CHDK?

If I'm not mistaken, today's processors shut down automatically if they get stuck (infinite loop etc.)

Can my sensor be damaged somehow?

Perhaps, if you expose for 65'' directly to the midday sun.

[DataGhost]

It is possible to damage the camera mechanically and kill the firmware. It'll probably not happen with the CHDK trunk builds, though, but it's fairly possible with my experimental branch. There's a reason those features didn't make it into trunk yet
Just be careful when creating/running scripts. Read what they're supposed to do and read the warnings that come with some scripts. Canon put in a lot of failsafes so it's hard to damage the camera, but i.e. the 'super-tele-macro' script shows that they can't prevent everything (causes the S3IS lens to make some nasty sounds which indicate possible mechanical damage).

Infinite loop: no, normally not. There are some watchdog timers in the Canon OS, though... but the camera does not automatically shut down when it enters an infinite loop beyond the OS' control (I have observed this when dumping my camera's firmware through the AF LED, it kept going for several hours as I wanted ). The CPU cannot distinguish between normal code and an infinite loop, so it happily keeps executing until you kill the power.
Overheating is probably not an issue, I guess they designed it so the TDP won't be a problem.

[fe50]

dropped the camera into a sink full of water while trying to capture water drops at 1/60,000 shutter speed
AND
are hit by a lightning while using motion detection to capture it
AND
expose for 65'' directly to the midday sun.

wontolla, what a great combination 

not a single soul has ever reported any damage caused directly by CHDK

So when a lightning hit me while sitting in a bathtube and capturing water drops with 65'' exposure i will report here in the forum, i swear

[wontolla]

That's why I said "soul"...or spirit or phantom if you will.

Please report any malfunction if hit by a lightning. If Data"Ghost" can login from beyond the grave, you can do it as well.

But according to your avatar, the lightning has already hit you!

[sleepyk]

Well, I think I'll give it a try then!  Cool!

I heard about this on TWiP the other day and they said something about being worried about hacking a camera, but they never stated what could really go wrong
I do my best to stay away from the lightning, water and infinite CPU loops in my CHDK experiences

Thanks again guys, I am going to learn tons from this community!

[fe50]

That's why I said "soul"...or spirit or phantom if you will.

Please report any malfunction if hit by a lightning. If Data"Ghost" can login from beyond the grave, you can do it as well.

But according to your avatar, the lightning has already hit you!

  * We are the Power inside, we bring you Fantasy.
  * We are the Kingdom of Light and Dreams,
  * Gnosis and Life: Avantasia!
Avantasia - The Scarecrow

[intrnst]

Err... guys! Sorry interrupt the poetry time, but

@wontolla
I use your words at this section of CHDK for Newbies. Hope you don't mind.

Full fathom five thy father lies;
   Of his bones are coral made;

Thou shall continue now!

[wontolla]

@sleepyk
Very good!, you won't regret it.

@intrnst
Fine by me, but I wouldn't trust my english for a wikia document.
Can I ask you to remove my name? I'd preffer to remain anonymous.
Keep it going with the Dummie's page!

[intrnst]

@wontolla

Oh, the modest genius... Already done, thanks! ;]

__
btw: better your english that mine, for sure.